China is willing to strengthen friendly exchanges between the two governments, parliaments and parties with South Africa, top lawmaker Wu Bangguo said Monday in Beijing.

The Chinese people have been firmly standing with the South African people since the South Africans fought apartheid, said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), while meeting with South African President Thabo Mbeki.

Currently, the strategic partnership between the two countries develops smoothly, which has not only brought concrete benefits to the two countries and peoples, but has also done good to the world peace, stability and development, Wu added.

China attaches great importance to the relations with South Africa, and the NPC will strengthen substantial exchanges and cooperation with the South African parliament under the framework of regular bilateral dialogue mechanism, Wu stressed.

Mbeki said the bilateral relationship plays an important role in South Africa's foreign ties and his country is looking forward to deepening cooperation with China in all fields.

He is happy to see closer ties between the two parliaments.

Mbeki, who arrived here Friday for a state visit, was among the 41 African heads of state or government and senior officials from 48 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with China at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

South Africa set up diplomatic relations with China in January 1998. The two countries established a strategic partnership focusing on equality, mutual benefit and common development in 2004.